Can I be like her?

Why do we encourage our students to attend concerts?

Last night, we heard Jenny Oaks Baker perform at the Intermountain Suzuki String Institute. Jenny was absolutely stunning, not only in how she played but in how she looked. My daughters were enthralled during the whole concert. In the middle of the concert my 8-year-old daughter whispered, "Mom, do you think I could play like her when I'm older?" "Of course!"

No amount of practicing will motivate a young child to learn to play beautifully than seeing someone they admire play. Go to concerts! Experience performances of exquisite beauty! Let your children see what they are capable of!

Practicitis

One of my favorite articles in the SAA is "The Official Medical Guide to Practicitis." My daughter has had a bad case of practicitis this week. She particularly has a problem with Physical Avoidance Syndrome. "The major sign is a request to use the bathroom." EVERY practice, EVERY lesson! Another sign of her practicitis is Acute Spontaneous Juvenile Pain Syndrome. "Symptoms range from something like toe aches and headaches to whole limbs being sore and unable to move." It doesn't matter what it is - it's magnified 100 times when practicing. She also seemed to have a certain amount of sadness or fatigue whenever she had to perform. However, as soon as she was off the stage - she was all smiles again. One way I got over this little problem was a bit of bribery. "If you play your violin happily at the concert tonight you can have some ice cream after!" "Okay!!!" At our last concert, she was all smiles - too much. She was giggling, waving to me and my parents (10 times), and whispering to the girl next to her the whole time! Well, I suppose it was more amusing for concertgoers to see this side of her personality than the crying/tired side. It's all part of the journey...